Lung cancer screening set to reach new heights

INDUSTRY VIEW

1 November 2018

Lung cancer screening to reach new heights with the latest CT technology in the community

Siemens Healthineers believe in innovations through technology, with increased focus on prevention and early detection ensuring that life is not only extended, but that quality of life is also maximised.

Let’s take lung cancer as an example. Lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer, with 45,000 people diagnosed in the UK each year. However, there is evidence which shows that the earlier the condition is diagnosed, the more likely it is that the cancer can be successfully treated and the better the outcome for the patient. This reduces both the human cost of the disease, but also the NHS treatment costs.

Siemens Healthineers aims to empower providers to move the focus of care away from treatment of late-stage lung cancer towards prevention and early diagnosis. We believe this can be achieved through:

Expanding precision medicine and minimising patient harm through the use of ultra-low dose scanners and advances in digital imaging to reduce false positives

Transforming care delivery and improving the patient experience by offering screening in a setting that is readily accessible to all, and which delivers a rapid and convenient service with fast patient throughput and turnaround of results

A recently announced partnership with Siemens Healthineers, Cobalt Health and Lamboo Mobile Medical to provide a mobile lung cancer screening service in the community is an example of Siemens Healthineers’ pursuit of the above. This partnership involves supporting the NHS in Manchester to deliver a mobile CT screening service. For the very first time, we are installing one of our ultra-low dose SOMATOM go.Up CT scanners in a mobile trailer. During pilot schemes in Manchester, mobile screening units have helped to significantly increase early diagnoses. This supports study evidence and confirms the potential to save thousands of lives.

The scanner used on the trailer features innovative solutions that bring an unparalleled level of flexibility and mobility to daily CT routines. The solutions also help to enhance patient comfort with an innovative workplace design, allowing the patient to be at the centre of the examination and for the clinician to remain in close proximity to them for longer during the scan process.

Siemens Healthineers are very excited by this partnership, and hope it will pave the way for extraordinary progress in diagnosing and treating the highly challenging disease of lung cancer.

There is a need to ensure that the NHS remains a world-leading healthcare provider, and has access to new innovations to support this aspiration. We share this vision, and we hope to continue working in collaboration with our partners to help deliver the same.